Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: Team in good shape at DT to weather McNeill's early-season absence
Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.
We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.
Today, we’ll be looking at the defensive tackles.
Who is on the roster?
Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Roy Lopez, Brodric Martin, Mekhi Wingo, Pat O'Connor, Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Raequan Williams
Starting lineup outlook
McNeill, Detroit’s best defensive tackle, will start the season on the shelf. He’s recovering from a torn ACL, which he didn’t have surgically repaired until January, once the swelling subsided. At this point, we shouldn’t expect him back until the middle of the season.
Fortunately, the Lions are constructed to withstand McNeill's absence. In four-man fronts, Onwuzurike is capable of playing the 3-technique alongside Reader, the veteran run-stuffer. Onwuzurike, coming off the first healthy season of his career, was a force as a pass rusher, racking up 47 pressures. Of course, he’ll be looking to convert more of those disruptions into sacks after finishing with just 1.5 in 2024.
When the Lions go to five-man fronts, which they utilized frequently last season, don’t be surprised to see Williams work his way into significant playing time with the starting group. The first-round pick has a similar build and skill set to a younger McNeill, which should allow Onwuzurike to play some wider alignments where he’s been most effective.
Camp competition to watch
There are questions at the back end of the rotation beyond the trio discussed above. Lopez figures to spell Reader at nose tackle, but it’s a little unclear how Wingo and O’Connor will fit into the rotation.
Wingo should be fully healed to start camp after last season’s meniscus tear. The undersized defender didn’t do much as a rookie. Still, the Lions appreciate his football character and remain intrigued by his inside/outside versatility.
With O’Connor, he’s got plenty of experience and was one of the “Northern Savages” who helped hold the defense together when it was ravaged by injuries a year ago. He can do a little bit of everything across the front. Plus, there’s a trust factor there, especially with the Lions bringing in Kacy Rodgers, his former position coach from Tampa. It wouldn't be surprising to see O’Connor fend off younger options for snaps.
A burning question
Will Martin go down as Brad Holmes' first bust? We're not counting some of the Day 3 picks that haven't worked out, acknowledging they're inherently more of a scratch-off ticket, despite Holmes' impressive hit rate in the later rounds.
Martin, on the other hand, was a third-round choice that the Lions moved up to get. And through his first two seasons, he hasn't proven useful. The long-armed behemoth was showing some flashes during his second training camp, only for that positive momentum to be derailed by a hyperextended knee that shelved him for several weeks. When he returned to action and got a shot to play, his longstanding issues with leverage persisted, landing him back on the bench.
After the Lions signed Lopez and drafted Williams this offseason, the room is suddenly crowded. Martin is unquestionably entering camp on the bubble, and despite Detroit giving their draft picks a longer leash to figure things out, it wouldn't be surprising to see them pull the plug on the experiment if there aren't obvious and significant improvements this camp.
Setting an over/under
Onwuzurike sacks: 4.5
For the second consecutive season, Onwuzurike will be playing for his next contract. That was secondary to proving his back was healthy a year ago, and his market suggested that teams still aren’t sold on his long-term health, allowing the Lions to retain him for another year at a relative bargain.
Backs are problematic, and the fusion surgery he underwent to resolve his issue comes with understandable concerns. Regardless, logging more than 600 snaps last season answered a lot of questions. A repeat performance, accompanied by an uptick in sack production, should alleviate lingering unease and lead to a substantial payday for the defender.
Onwuzurike was a man on a mission last offseason. That determination and dedication paid dividends. I expect more of the same in 2025.
we are going to surprise people with our defense. I find it amusing when I see in a few places game by game projections having washington scoring 40+ points this season. When we played them last year, our defense was down 6 starters plus many backups which forced our offense to press and turn it over. with hutch, alim, davenport, anzelone, barnes back and an improved cb room, watch out!
This unit is formidable, both in size and skills. When teams can’t run on you, they become one dimensional and unable to have any rhythm. Expect a big year from Reader.